“DREAMERS, schemers and beemers” is how a ringside wag once summed up the inhabitants of the horse world. In the breeding sector, this can be broadly divided amongst those who carry on breeding for the love of the horse, breeders keen to avail of grant schemes and the wealthy.

Broad brushstrokes certainly. However, there has always been an element of the head vs heart judgement in the Irish sport horse breeding sector, which has recently seen the announcement of several programmes aimed at supporting the industry.